Excerpt from Our American Wonderlands
Few Americans know their own land even in a cursory way. The Alps are not to be known by railway travelers, nor can the Sierras be studied "from a car-window." With its two thousand years or more of culture and material progress there are many parts of Europe that can be seen only by those who are willing to leave the beaten tracks. Many of the trails of the United States are still fresh and newly-trodden, yet the wonders and marvels they reach are far beyond what the Old World has to offer. In everything, save the products of man's industry, genius, and energy, this country affords far more to see than does Europe. Our "Wonderlands" are more startling, more varied, more alluring, more attractive.
Hence, while the war now raging between the great civilized nations of Europe is to be deplored, it will serve one good purpose, at least, if it leads Americans to a keener, truer patriotism, manifested in a desire to see and better know their own country. He is no true American - from my standpoint - who will seize every opportunity to cross the Atlantic before he has crossed the prairies, the Rockies, the sage-brush deserts, and the Sierras of his own land. Once let Americans know and exalt the glories of American scenery as they do those of European scenery, and the United States will begin to take its proper and appointed place among the countries of the world as the possessor of many gifts and most wonderful allurements.
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